Chapter 153

I stumbled, nearly crashing into his chest. At the last second, I grabbed the doorframe, using every ounce of strength to steady myself.“Morning,” I gasped, forcing a smile that was both strained and vaguely professional.

Evan looked at me, saying nothing. In that moment, his silence was a silent accusation, a questioning of my early–morning stealth. His self–righteous expression made me want to ask him if he wasn’t the one who’d gone on a couple of primal rampages the night before.

He was already dressed in a sharp, vintage dark brown suit, tall and elegant, every inch the sophisticated gentleman. Gone was the man from last night. I scoffed inwardly. He’d recovered quickly, and was already criticizing my sneaking around.

“I came to wake you,” I offered as a flimsy excuse.“We’re leaving this afternoon. I thought I’d pack.”

He was silent for a few seconds.“Let’s have breakfast first.”

Breakfast?! I didn’t want to have breakfast with him! The very thought was excruciatingly awkward.

“You go ahead,” I said backing away.“I usually work before breakfast.”

He stepped out of the room, then turned back, his eyes narrowed slightly.“Ms. Frost,” he said, his voice low and measured, “you chose to come in here. I hope you won’t regret it.” He didn’t elaborate, simply turning and leaving. I was completely baffled.

Regret? Did he have someone hidden in the room? The question hung in the air until I stepped into the bathroom, caught a whiff of the lingering scent, and finally understood... I regretted it. I knew... I knew too much!

I packed his things, then went back and painstakingly packed my own, lingering for ages downstairs, assuming he’d already eaten.

When I got downstairs, he was sitting on the sofa in the living room. “Did you redecorate upstairs?” he asked, his gaze cool and assessing.“Let’s go get breakfast.”

It felt like lightning had struck me.“...” Why was he waiting for me“? I absolutely did *not* want to have breakfast with him!

“Don’t just stand there,” he said, rising. Seeing me remain motionless, he added, “Come on.”

Despair washed over me. I patted my face, telling myself to remain calm. It was just... last night... plus what I’d discovered this morning... But as I sat down, seeing him bathed in the sunlight, his usual cool and austere demeanor, my mind conjured up images of him in his black robe, his shirt half–open, his eyes filled with desire... Worse, my started to fill in the blanks about him... alone... in the bathroom...

mind Oh God! I was going insane! I closed my eyes, swearing it wasn’t intentional. I’m a grown woman! These images just...

appeared! I couldn’t control it!

“I told you you’d regret it,” he sighed.

I clenched my fists. Why could he be so calm?!

He looked at me with concern. “You look distressed. Did I frighten you?”

“No!” I cut him off, raising a hand.“I’m brave!” I said, forcing a light tone, and started to eat, stabbing at my food while chewing air, my mind racing through the Russo–Ukrainian war, picturing starving African children... What could I possibly do to maintain world peace? I desperately tried to turn the page on this awkward chapter.

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